Energy efficiency and system performance are inextricably linked. An energy-efficient air system is a high-performing one, providing good comfort, indoor-air quality, and acoustics, with optimum service life and minimum carbon emissions contributing to climate change.
AMCA International believes that, by collaborating with energy-efficiency organizations, government agencies, and other stakeholders, a meaningful and cost-effective mix of voluntary and regulatory energy-efficiency measures can be achieved. Further, AMCA International believes it is vital that manufacturers and industry design professionals evolve their products and practices to incorporate the latest standards, technologies, and tools.
United States
In the United States, AMCA is active in the development of model energy codes and standards, utility rebate programs, and government regulations, which it sees as interrelated. AMCA believes overly stringent federal regulations leave little flexibility for model codes and standards to address the needs of local jurisdictions and ultimately starve utility rebate programs, preventing them from reaching the reasonable benchmarks needed to drive returns on investment for higher-efficiency products.
DOE fan-efficiency rulemaking: In June 2011, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) initiated a rulemaking for commercial and industrial fans and blowers. At the time, fan efficiency grade (FEG) was the established metric for fan-efficiency provisions in model energy codes and standards. In February 2013, however, the DOE released a rulemaking framework indicating a preference for a metric based on electrical power consumption, a departure from FEG. AMCA and its members then went about developing a new fan-efficiency metric, fan energy index (FEI). Although finalization of a federal regulation has been postponed, FEI is making its way into model energy codes and standards: the 2019 edition of ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 90.1, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, and, expectedly, the 2020 edition of ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES 189.1, Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, and the 2021 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). What’s more, FEI has been proposed for California Title 24 building energy-efficiency standards and Title 20 appliance-efficiency regulations.
Learn More About FEI
Model codes and standards for energy efficiency and green construction: AMCA is active on codes and standards committees that are adopting and refining provisions covering fan efficiency. AMCA Standard 205, Energy Efficiency Classification for Fans, is the reference standard for provisions in the International Green Construction Code, ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 90.1, ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES 189.1, and the IECC.
Rebate programs: AMCA is committed to the development of utility rebate programs for commercial and industrial fans, believing that stimulating flexible, voluntary market forces will have a greater impact on energy savings than regulatory approaches will.
Education and training: AMCA maintains an ever-growing library of educational and training resources for manufacturers, consulting engineers, contractors, commissioning providers, building owners, and code officials.
Asia
Asia AMCA is tracking the development of energy-efficiency regulations throughout Asia. Also, members of AMCA International located in Asia are certifying fans for FEG ratings.